By Ebenezer Sowah, GNA
Ho, April 12, GNA - Mr. Israel Akrobortu, Volta Regional Director, Department of Children has challenged families to accept the responsibility of caring for orphans to reduce streetism in the country.
He said this was because cursory observation indicated that a good number of children in the street had lost their parents and lacked care from extended relations.
Mr. Akrobortu said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency to mark this year’s International Day for Street Children which the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection on the theme “Turn world to reality: operation get off the streets for a better life project”.
He said it was important for extended relations of orphans to accept the responsibilities of caring for them as the first point of call.
“The extended family system must not be alien to us. These children are vulnerable and should not be left on the street. The extended families are the first point of call and must help the Department to take the children off the streets”, the Director said.
Mr. Akrobortu said though poverty and urbanization contributed to streetism, with some support from extended families, children could grow comfortably in good family settings and not in street corners.
He commended non- governmental organizations for partnering the Department to get children off the streets but said more needed to be done and called for support from other stakeholders.
Mr. Akorobortu said the Ministry had put together a research team to conduct research on street children nationwide and hopeful the intervention would help address the situation.
The International Day for Street Children is celebrated every year on 12th April. The day provides a platform for millions of children on the streets around the world and their champions to speak out for their rights not to be ignored.
GNA
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